Keywords
Image guided surgery
Trigeminal neuralgia
Minimally invasive surgery
Frameless stereotaxy
How to Cite
Abstract
Objective: To describe neuronavigation-guided percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia.
Methods: Neuronavigation guided percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the Gasser ganglion was used in nine patients with trigeminal neuralgia who developed resistance to drugs used in the treatment of TN or have had adverse effects due to drug toxicity. The age of the patients was between 62 and 78 years.
Results: All patients had immediate pain relief after thermocoagulation guided by neuronavigation. Neuronavigation allowed visualization of instrument position in relation to target and the related anatomical structures. The technique helped preoperative planning of the optimal trajectory for needle insertion. There were no complications of the procedure.
Conclusion: Image guided percutaneous thermocoagulation in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia is a safe and promising procedure. The technique has reduced the risk of postoperative complications caused by “hunting” of the foramen ovale.
